A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge- Year 2

[Samtian]

September/October is here so break time is over!

Time to start with some fundamentals. Photography has it's own set of "rules". Which of course are meant to be broken, but it's really helpful to know some basics. Starting with the rule of 3rds in composition. What you do is place your subject on one of the "imaginary" lines that cut a photo into thirds ( 9 sections). I do this rule often, but sometimes parents don't like it in their pictures and want the subjects centered. Included is images with the lines showing. Just basic set up so you can see it. One of the easiest ways to get something on one of the lines is to crop it down. When you crop an image you usually get the lines that show up, using those lines tells you where the "thirds" are, and just line your subject up with one of them. 

If you want to get really technical I encourage you to look up the Golden Ratio and learn about it. It has many names and it is way too mathematical for my brain to comprehend. To my knowledge I don't think I have ever taken a golden ratio image. I have golden triangle but not ratio. Check it out! photoworkout dot com/golden-ratio-photography/  

Hopefully you can see the lines...I should have thought it out and used a dark background. 

What a great first year we had!! Even if I dropped the ball sometimes! I decided to change things up this year with the themes. They will be a little more challenging this year.

2023-

April- DOF 2 images.

May- Flash/Artificial Light.

June- What you see vs. What I see

July- Break

August- Break

September/October- Rule of 3rds.

2022 challenges-

April- Lipstick

May- Eye Shadow

June- Primer/Foundation/Concealer/CC/BB

July- Highlighters

August- Brushes

September- Sheet Masks

October- Hair Care

November- Fragrance

December- Nail Polish

January- Blush/Bronzer

February- Candles/Wax Melts/ Diffusers

The challenge and "rules"-

1. Flat lays and staged photos only. I'll post examples below. But no faces or people allowed in your photos. (Though you can include photographs).

2. All photos you take must be your own. 

3. Post as many images as you want, you have a whole month to get creative with each theme. Post one, post everyday, doesn't matter.

4. Let's talk gear and products! Tell us about your image. List the products and colors, talk to us about your concept and how it came to be, taken with your phone or DSLR? 

Here are some helpful reads- digital-photography-school dot com/flat-lay-photography/  and digital-photography-school dot com/tips-for-getting-started-with-still-life-photography/

Here are some of my example images I've taken in the past-

Gucci Bloom Eau De Toilette 1 oz/ 30 mL 

Floral Street Sunflower Pop Eau De Parfum Travel Spray 0.34 oz/ 10 mL 

[itsfi]

Very true @Sunnysmom. Thank you! 😁

[Saradestin]

I love both photo shoots @itsfi !! So beautiful! 

[itsfi]

Thank you @Saradestin! It was definitely a case of the product doing all the work. It's such a pretty shadow! 😍

[Samtian]

@itsfi Ooh those are pretty! Getting things at just the right angle is a challenge!

[itsfi]

Thank you @Samtian! 😃 Angles really do help with the look of a shot but my word!!! It can be so challenging to get it just right! The more I try my had at photography the more I’m impressed with what you and others with your amazing eye and skill set do to get such amazing photos.

[Titian06]

Both pics are pretty, @itsfi ! 💖💖💖  I like the reflection of the product in the lid in the first pic and how shiny the product is in the second pic. 😁

[itsfi]

@Titian06, thank you so much. 🥰 I wish I could say I planned for it but I didn’t even realize there’s a reflection of the product on the first pic until you pointed it out. 😂 Another example of how a simple “point and shoot” approach is sometimes better than staging everything. Ha!

[CookieGirl1]

So pretty, @itsfi 🙂

[itsfi]

@CookieGirl1, thank you. These Hourglass eyeshadows are beautiful. 🤩 

[LCResz]

Finally got a new iPhone, so why not have a JHaG photo shoot! Of course the Ouds (Another and Midnight) had to play the divas on pedestals, while Mmmm, Not a Perfume, and Gentlewoman gave major patriotic vibes. Meanwhile Pear Inc, decided to lie down on the job, lol!

Juliette Has a Gun MMMM… Juliette Has a Gun Gentlewoman Juliette Has a Gun Not A Perfume Juliette Has a Gun Another Oud 3.3 oz/ 98 mL Eau de Parfum Spray Juliette Has a Gun Midnight Oud 3.3 oz/ 100 mL Juliette Has a Gun PEAR INC. 

[Saradestin]

Wow! I am so jealous of your collection @LCResz!! Beautiful picture!

[Guessgal]

@LCResz Wow you have quite the collection! I'm liking the idea of having the two on pedestals to give the pic some extra dimension! Which one is your favourite scent from the line?

[LCResz]

@Guessgal  Thanks! I love Jazz Club because boozy scents are right up my alley, but for everyday wear I’d have to say Pear Inc., it’s very fresh and accessible yet still interesting. Both ouds are lovely but I’ve found others that last longer on my skin so I don’t wear them as often. Mmmm… is a very fruity scent, which is a scent profile I usually don’t enjoy but the patchouli and sandalwood ground everything beautifully.

[Saradestin]

@LCResz I have Pear Inc. and I love it!! I am curious about other scents as I have just tried three from the brand

[CookieGirl1]

Love the pic AND the collection, @LCResz!

[itsfi]

@LCResz, you have a beautiful JHaG collection; love the description of the shot❣️

I first started looking into JHaG fragrances after I learned that the house was founded by the great grandson of Nina Ricci. Her L'Air du Temps was my first fancy fragrance. I received it as a gift and well, I don't think Love's Baby Soft saw much usage, if any, after that. 😉😆 

Pear, Inc. is my most recent fragrance from JHaG. I somehow seem to have missed Midnight Oud. Going to have to check out that one at some point. Note to self... 🗒 

[Samtian]

@LCResz Beautiful collection!

[Skunk12puzzola]

@LCResz yes JM 👑!! you are rocking it!!

[Titian06]

Very pretty, @LCResz ! ❤🤍💙

[Samtian]

A while back I had been waiting for my mom to finish something she was working on so we could watch our show Moon Knight and Halo, we had just finished Masked Singer. She was taking forever so I just sat there and watched the show that came on after Masked Singer, Domino Masters. She finished half way through that show but I made her wait because I was very interested and hooked. Needless to say I watched that show every week there after. My favorite team also won. So my inspiration for this image was Domino Masters. They have to use dominos that tell a story based on a theme. So mine was to use my single shadows and PMG sequins as the dominoes. Not the greatest but I had fun. I didn't even realize all the negative space I had in the corner, but I am not resetting it up to fix that lol. 

[CookieGirl1]

That's such a fun pic, @Samtian!